The Fire

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE FIRE 2:1-4

Acts 2:1-4

2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

NIV

The controversy over this event has caused division among both denominations and individuals. Unfortunately, the rift stems from misinterpretation or from seeing this event through a preconceived filter. There has also been much discussion that this was a one-time event and that the Spirit no longer fills people and enables them to speak in tongues or other languages. The next verses indicate that all who were filled with the Spirit spoke fifteen different known languages. Of course, the disciples were Galileans and would not have been schooled in all those languages, yet this was all the work of the Holy Spirit. We will also see that the disciples were speaking about praising God. Here is another controversy that we will get to, but for now, let us be contend to know that the Holy Spirit filled those disciples and gave them abilities beyond their human knowledge. Has the Holy Spirit stopped working in that same manner? Did the Holy Spirit come to them but to no one since then? Throughout the rest of the Acts of the Apostles, we see people being baptized in the Spirit and receiving spiritual gifts, even speaking in tongues or other languages. Paul, inspired to write to the Corinthian church, gave them instructions regarding the gifts of the Spirit. It was clear that when the Spirit enabled someone to speak in tongues, it was man talking to God, in other words, praising God, just as the disciples were doing. It is when the Spirit enables the gift of prophecy that God is speaking to man. However, the point is that the Spirit does not change, as God never changes, and he is the triune Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We should also note these disciples were already believers, that is, they knew Jesus was their Lord and Savior, the true Messiah. They witnessed all he did, the cross, His burial, resurrection, and ascension. But they were not filled with the Spirit until He was sent to them by Jesus. We understand the view that when we are saved, we are automatically filled with the Spirit, but that may not be correct. John the Baptist said that he only baptizes with water, but Jesus will baptize with the Spirit and with fire. Because we will see people accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and then be baptized, we can come to no other conclusion than that these are two events. Secondly, why are there Christians today, people who confess they are saved, but refuse to acknowledge being baptized with the Spirit and enabled with spiritual gifts? In fact, we have known some who accuse the gift of tongues, or speaking in another language, as being from the devil. Why is this so confusing? Why do we not just accept the word of God as truth? When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, whether we call it being baptized or not, the Spirit will enable us beyond our human knowledge or skills. Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This means we will have a fire burning within us, praising our Lord. We will live with this burning within us, filled with the Spirit, and we will not be able to remain silent.  If we are worshipping in Spirit and in truth, we would expect our worship to come from the fire within us.